Ballinderry Shamrocks

Reigning All-Ireland club champions, Ballinderry, will play Loup in the Derry Senior Football final after they beat Lavey in Saturday’s semi-final, while Loup beat Glenullin.

In an easy 1-15 to 2-3 win Ballinderry were in control throughout.

From the moment Martin Harney knocked over the first point in the second minute the result of this game was never in doubt as Ballinderry coasted into their fourth consecutive final with consummate ease.

In truth they never had to move out of second gear to beat a Lavey team that played so poorly from beginning to end. Ballinderry were more convincing winners than the nine point victory might suggest, the second Lavey goal scored in added time.

The Shamrocks were superior in all sections of the field, Muldoon and Donnelly totally dominant in the middle of the field. Henry Downey tried hard to shore up the Lavey defence but, to no avail, as the Ballinderry forwards ran the show with Gilligan, Harney and Cassidy in impressive form. Had keeper Hasson not been in safe form, they might have had a couple more goals.

The winner’s defence was composed and competent throughout with McCusker resolute and dominant at full-back, the rest going about their business in confident fashion. Hearty and substitute McCormick scored the goals but the attack as a unit made no impression on the Ballinderry defence.

Harney and Muldoon put Ballinderry on the road to victory with early points, Gilligan converting a 10th minute penalty for a 1-02 to 0-01 lead. Cassidy and Gilligan increased the lead but hearty gave Lavey some hope in the 25th minute with a goal that beat Conlon after a slight deflection off a defender.

Ahead 1-05 to 1-01 on the restart Ballinderry picked off some glorious points to increase their lead to twelve with ten minutes to go. The accurate Cassidy added to his first half 0-03 with four more points. McCormick’s late goal only a consolation core.

Loup qualified for their first senior final since 1936 when they beat Glenullin 1-10 to 1-6 at Lavey last evening and will now play near neighbours and rivals Ballinderry in what will be an eagerly awaited decider at Celtic park on Sunday, Sept 29th

Glenullin had first use of the swirling breeze but made little headway against a strong Loup defence in which McGuinness and McFlynn excelled. They were ahead 0-05 to 0-02 at the interval with points from minor star Young, McBride(3) and McFlynn.

A disappointing Glenullin attack could only muster points from a Paddy Bradley free and John Bradley. However the Mitchels got off to a great start after half time when keeper McGuckin could only palm an Eoin Bradley free from the side line out to Dominic Bradley who the palmed it high into the roof of the net to tie the scores.

Loup hit back in the 7th minute with a goal from McQuillan, Glenullin unable to break down the lead as Fintan Martin and Paul Young had fine second periods. Kevin Ryan had moved to wing back when Lavery was injured ten minutes from the break and he hhad a fine game in defence.

John Bradley kept Glenullin in touch with a couple of neat points from frees but late scores by Martin and McFlynn from a free ensued victory for Loup. Near the final whistle Dominic Bradley was sent off after an incident with Loup corner back Bigmore.